Margaret Truman's Experiment in Murder by Margaret Truman Read Free Book Online Page B

asked.
    â€œWe’re investigating the death of Dr. Mark Sedgwick.”
    Her smile vanished. “Oh, yes, I heard about it. What a tragedy. He was a very kind and compassionate doctor. I read about it in the papers.”
    â€œYou did know him, then.”
    â€œYes. I was a patient of his once.”
    â€œWe’re aware of that, ma’am,” said Owens. “We have some questions we’d like to ask you.”
    Her expression turned to puzzlement. “Whatever for?”
    â€œMind if we come in?” Owens asked.
    â€œI … I suppose that will be all right,” she said, “It’s just that—”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œIt’s just that this is upsetting, having detectives come to my home concerning Dr. Sedgwick’s death. What could I possibly know that would interest you?”
    â€œWe can determine that after we ask you a few questions,” Breen said, hoping he wasn’t treading on Owens’s toes. He’d hardened his tone to sound the way he was sure a detective should sound.
    â€œAll right,” she said, her smile returning. “You’ll have to excuse the house. It’s a bit of a mess.”
    She removed her hat as they followed her inside. She was blond. Tatum was struck by her demeanor. Aside from a natural curiosity about their visit, she was calm and pleasant, hardly the behavior of someone who had deliberately run someone down only a few days earlier.
    The house was a lot neater than she’d promised. She invited them to sit in a glassed-in atrium at the rear in which dozens of plants sat on windowsills or on metal stands.
    â€œWould you like something to drink?” she asked. “I made fresh iced tea this morning and—”
    â€œNo, thank you,” Owens said. “Ms. Klaus, have you ever owned a white Buick Regal?”
    She answered instantly. “No. Why do you ask?”
    â€œDr. Sedgwick was struck by a white Buick Regal,” Breen said.
    â€œHow dreadful,” she said. “I believe I read that some people who witnessed it said it appeared that the driver deliberately hit Dr. Sedgwick. Is that true?”
    â€œYes, ma’am, we think that’s what happened,” said Owens. “What kind of car do you drive?”
    â€œA Mazda. It’s in the garage. Do you wish to see it?”
    â€œIn a minute,” Owens said. “You acknowledge that you were a patient of Dr. Sedgwick.”
    â€œYes. Why shouldn’t I? There’s no crime in seeing a psychiatrist.”
    Owens smiled. “Of course there isn’t,” he said. “Did you and Dr. Sedgwick … well, were you friends aside from the doctor-patient relationship?”
    She rolled her eyes up, blew out an exasperated stream of air, lowered her eyes, and fixed him in a hard stare. “Are you suggesting that—?”
    Owens held up his hand. “I’m not suggesting anything, Ms. Klaus, but we’ve been informed that you and the doctor traveled together on a few occasions.”
    â€œThat simply is not true!” she exclaimed. “Not true. Whatever gave you that idea? Who told you such a thing?”
    â€œPlease understand, Ms. Klaus, that it’s our job to follow up on anything and everything we’re told.”
    Tatum knew that Owens would ask Betty Martinez for more details about Sedgwick’s travels as they might have involved Sheila Klaus and have someone dig into airline records. There was nothing to be gained by pressing her about it at this juncture.
    Tatum had said nothing since they arrived. But he was keenly attuned to every word Sheila Klaus said, every gesture, the inflection in her voice, her posture, the vehemence with which she denied what Owens had suggested. It sounded to Tatum that she was being truthful, and he wondered whether the detective was barking up the wrong tree. He was aware, of course, that he was the one who’d initiated the interest in her